Valve construction for pneumatic players.



W. C. STEPHENSON.

VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR PNEUMATIC PLAYERS.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 27. |914.

1,160,008. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.,wASHINuTON. D. c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT @FETCH WILLIAM: C. STEPHENSON, OF TOBURN, MASSACUEETTS, ASSIGNOR TO 'JOSE @a SONS PIANO COMPANY, SETTS.

0F BSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, .A CORFGRATON OF MASSACHU- VALVE CONSTRUCTION FSB PNEUMATIC PLAYERS.

Specification of Letters atent.

Patented N ov. 9, 1915.

Application led November 27, 1914. Serial No. GLlSl.

Muur@ Of l neu' and useful improvements in Valve Construction for Pneumatic Players, of which the following is a specification.

This in 7ention relates to valve construction for pneumatic piano players, and consiste in the novel and improved features hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention,-l\"igure l is a vertical sectional view, partly in side elevation, showing my neuY valve construction, and such associated parts ot a pneumatic player apparatus as are necessary to make clear the environment and mode ot operation of the valve; Fig. 2 is plan view et' said valve and associated parts with the cover oi' the valve chamber removed; F ig. 3 is a side view of the valve chamber housing removed from the wind box; Fig. il is a sectional view ot' said valve chamber housing; and Fig. 5 is a plan view oi' the valve guiding ring.

Referring to the drawings, l represents a bo-X or casing divided by partition 2 into two chambers 3 and l. Chamber 3 is connected by wind pipe 5 to the usual pumping apparatus of the instrument (not shown) by which suction is maintainedin chamber 3. A pneumatic 6, which actuates the usual piano action (not shown) is secured to the casing l and is connected by passage 7 through the casing, with the valve chamber formed by the valve housing 8 ot metal, which is normally open to Jdie atmosphere through valve port 9. The pneumatic 6 is thus normally in open or expanded position, as shown.

The chamber l is connected by the usual tube l0 to the tracker bar over which passes the perforated note sheet.

The partition 2 is provided with a small port 11 connecting chambers 3 and 4; and a loose, lieXible pouch l2 spans an aperture in said partition.

The valve chamber consists of the cylindrical metal shell or valve housing 8, having a valve seat 13 surrounding a valve port la in its bottom. The top of the housing 8 is open, and an opening 15 is provided through its side to comi'nunicate with passage T. The upper valve port 9 is termed in a removable cover strip 16, that part ot which immediately surrounding port 9 forms an. upper valve seat. The valve 17 is situated in the valve chamber 8, and is provided on both its upper and lower faces with a lining of leather or other suitable material adapted to malte ti "it joint with the valve seats, The valve l? is provided with stem 1S, which carries a button or head 19 at its lower end. engaging the flexible ponen l2.

The valve is guided in its vertical movenient b v series of small guiding projections extending inward from the walls oi" the valve housing S and engaging the valve itself rather than the stem, between which projection the valve is free to move up and dovy n. rleretotore such valves have been guided by laterally extending arms, having sockets in which the valve stem slides. Such stem guides not only prevent any wabbling of the valve, thus preventing the valve from making a tight closure with the seat in case of any unevenness ot' the parts, but also eX- tend across the valve ports, thereby interfering with the free passage of the air and often causing a vv'histling sound. The guiding projections of my valve are preferably 'formed by bending loops or points 2l in an expanding spring ring 2O of ne wire, which is seated in a shallow groove in the circular walls or' housing 8 and there held by its own resiliency. Said ring is broken or interrupted as shown at opposite the opening l5 in housing 8.

lt will be understood that when suction is created in chamber 3, and also in chamber -lthrough port ll, by the pumping device to which pipe 5 is connected, the valve 17 will be closed by gravity on seat 13, thereby closing port lil. The pouch l2 will hang down loosely, since the pressure is the same on both sides. The air in tube l() will thus be under tension or suction, but will be closed by the note sheet. When a perforation in the note sheet passes and opens tube l0 to the atmosphere, the pressure is suddenly raised in chamber el, the perforation ll being so small that the opening ot' tube l0 will atleet chamber #l before it does chamber 3. Thereupon pouch l2 will be i'orced upward and will lift the valve, thereby opening' port 14 and closing port 9. This will cut off paspa'c-lle'd in the holeV in which itvfits.

sage from the atmosphere and connect it to suction chamber 3 through the valve chamber 8, immediately causing pneumatic 6 to collapse and actuate the corresponding hammer of the piano action. `When the note sheet again cuts otl tube l() from the atmosphere the valve 17 will drop and the parts be restored to their initial position.V

rlfhe one piece metal housing 8 constitutes a simple and eective valve chamber, free `from the possibility of leaking, and readily inserted or removed together with the val fe, should occasion require. lf desired, the housing S may be cemented or otherwise The valve housing and valve Vmay be properly assembled betere they are put into the casing. ind the ne wire guide projections permit thefree movement of the valve, andalso'leave the air passages through the valve housing practically uninterrupted.

rl`lie wall ot the housing 8 which surrounds the periphery of the valve is herein l shown as cylindrical; but it will be understood thatit might be of some other shape, and the term wall as used in the claims is not used as a term of limitation but is intended to include the surrounding wall.

whether of cylindrical or non-cylindrical shape.

l claim:

l. ln combination, a valve chamber consisting of a metal housing, said housing being open at its top and having a valveport ouen at its to aand havin a valve V)ort and valve seat in' its bottom and an air opening through its side, a cover provided with a valve port and seat over the top of said housing, a double faced valve mounted to move vertically in said housing, and guidinglprojections, consisting of loops of wire,

'extending inivardlv from the wall of said housing which surrounds the valve adapted to guide said valve in its vertical movement.

In combination, a valve chamber consisting ol a metal housing, said housing being open at its top and having a valve port and valve seat in its bottom and an air opening through its side, a cover provided with a valve port and seat over the top of said housing, a double faced valve mounted to move vertically in said housing, andan eX- A pansion spring ring supported by the wall of said housing which surrounds the valve and Y Yhaving inwardly extending valve guiding ported by the wall of said housing which'` surrounds the valve and provided with a.

series of inwardly bent loops forming valve guiding projections. p

5. ln combination, a pneumatic valve chamber consisting of metal housing, a

plurality of guiding projections disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane and extending inwardly from the wall of the housing which surrounds the valve into direct but loose engagement with the valve at a series of points in said plane adapted to guide the valve to its seat and to permit the valve to tilt with substantial freedom relative to its direction of movement.

6. In combinationv with a valve chamber tor a pneumatic player, a wire ring support- Y ed by the wall of the chamber and having inwardl eXtendin Guiding ro'ections l i: a Y adapted to engage Vand lguide valve. Y

7. In combination witha valve chamber for a Vpneumatic player, an expansion spring;`

'wire ring supported by the wall of the chamber and having a series of inwardly'bent loops forming valve guiding projections adapted to engage and 'guide a valve;Y

8. ln combination, aV valve, a valve cham` ber consisting of a cuplike `shell integrally i Signed by me at'loston, Massachusettsl,`

this twentieth day of November, 1914.

" WLLIAM C. STEPHENSGN.

litnesses: Y l Ronnirr CUSHMAN,

RICHARD WV. HALL. Y

Copies of vthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

